Lighter



July 3 w. SPRUEGEL ET AL ,2

LIGHTER Filed April 5, 1933 2 SheetsSheet 1 IIIIIII'llIIIII'IIIIIII'II/I'IIIIIIII Sims wy Y O B E mm M wmm A 5 w. SPRUEGEL :1- AL 2,008,265

LIGHTER July 16, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1933 INVENTORS WqLTEH ZfHl/E'UE'L WALTER MHIEDE'L a H 219 aza v Patented n, 16,1935 7 I p i I 2,008,265

uon'rsa Application April 5, 1933, Serial No. 664,472 12 Claims. (01. iii-7.1)

This invention relates to lighters. Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Conventional lighters contain a wad of fuel lI-ll of Fig. 10. a absorbing material such as cotton'and the fuel Referring to the drawings, the reference nu-- is drawn therefrom by a wick. The disadvantage meral 20 represents a casing composed of a botattached to this type of lighter resides in the tom 2i, a top 22,and side walls 23. The casing 5 fact'that the wick'draws only part of the fuel maybe assembledfrom parts in any suitable which is absorbed inthe wad andafter the dampmanner. Braced or otherwise secured to ness of the wad drops to a certain degree, the 22 of the casing is a tubular member 25 which capillary attraction of the wick is insumeient to extends deep into the casing and whose lower draw fuel from the wad. Naturally the lighter end adjacent the bottom 2| of the casing is closed 10 has to be refueled after a comparatively short by a cap 26. This tubular member receivesv a time which is highly'inconvenient to the user. wick 21 whose one end extends slightly beyond It is an object of the present invention to pro the open end of tubular member 25. An openvide a lighter capable of being used over an exing 28 extends through the cap 26 and tubular tended period of time without refueling. member 25 and provides the sole communication 15 Anotherobject of the present invention is to between the wick 21 and the interior of the cas.-. provide a lighter containing a supply of fluid in ing 20. Any suitable fuel 28 in liquid form is'iizj liquid form, which cannot be spilled from said troduced into the casin 10 through a funnel I lighter, regardless of the position'in which it is which isbraced at 3| to a depressed DOri-iOlI carried. a I of a side wall 23 of the casing and extent!! Fin'ther obj ts and advantages of the present through a hole 33 in said side wall into the in invention will apparent from the following detel'ior 0f the 5 8- el 3. i8 m n! scription, reference being had to the accompamrthreaded at 34 and receives a plus 35 whose end ing drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of 36 is externally tapered and' i0 the one form of the present invention is clearly i t nal y tap n e 31 0f the 111 shown. the plugis properly threaded therein. In the drawings: any conventional ignition mechanism may be Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a lighter P vi 0n h p 12 f in F18 1 8nd embodying the present invention. This view is a 2 i lustrat an exampl o such a ventio al section taken on the line l-l of Fig. 3. ignition mechanism. Aflint 40 is slidablelongi- 30 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-4 tudinally n a Short tube Mid P rm n n ly of Fig. 1. p urged by a spring 42 in tube 4| against a ratchet Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 disc "made of steel which is rotatable in unison of Fig. 1. v with a larger wheel 45 rotatably supported and 5 Fig. 4 is a section view similar to Fig. 1 showadapted to be manually rotated in order to rotate 35 ing, however, the lighter in inverted position, ratchet disc 43 relative to the'flint 40 whereby a This view is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. spark i P u which is ir w rd th Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the lighter inanexposed d or wick Tube H i mou d o UNITED T ATES PATENT OFFICE other inverted position, v a short column 4' which is attached in any suit-- '40 Fig. 5a is a'sectional view of the lighter in still able manner to the 21 of the s- 40 another inverted Daemon suitable structure 41 is pivotally mounted at 48 Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a lighter into an W attabhed'm mama corporating a modification. Thissection istaken 13!) or the mm and covers the ifiifi iafi ifictfii ffifi f fiofifiififi if. 2,? sewmal View taken the Figs. 1 and 2. Embracing that end of the tubular member 25 which extends beyond the top 22 of 8 1S cross sectional View W the casing is an externally tapered sleeve 50 which Wing the "Mined 118ml an inverted cooperates with the internally tapered cap 5| of 50 hwleverstructure 41 to prevent the escape offuel vapor o 2? 9 i a s i er as... is... rec ono arrows g. o nm, ono e u Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a hter-inmember 25 which" 1i jeyond the top 22 of corporating another modification. This section the casing is located to fl11flpf the center plane 65 istaken on line Ill-4i of Fig. 11. A--A in order to accommodate the ignition 65' mechanism. It is, however, imperative that the entrance hole 28 be located to the right of the center plane A-A for a reason that appears obvious later; therefore, the tubular member 25 is slightly bent as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The exposed end of the wick is also located to the left of center plane B -B (see Fig. l) to accommodate the ignition mechanism. It is, however, imperative that the entrance hole 28 be located to the right of center plane B--B for a reason that ap' pears obvious later, therefore, the tubular mem her is also curved as shown in Fig. 1. ticularly, entrance hole 28 is. so located that the fuel supply in. the casing can under no circumstances flood the entire wick, the capillary attractionof wick 21 being solely relied; upon in any position of the casing to convey fuelifrom-thesupply to the exposed wick portion. As long as the entrance hole 28 dips'into the fuel supply a substantial portion of the wick is always above the fuel level. The maximum amount of fuel supply in the casing is naturally of great importance for the proper location of entrance hole 28. Regardless of any shape the casing may assume, the following course will always lead to the proper location of said entrance hole. The location of that portion of the tubular member'25 which extends beyond the casing is generally known and it is also known what minimum portion of the wick has to extend above the fuel level regardless of any position the casing may assume. The casing is inverted into a most unfarrorable position in which said predetermined minimum portion of the tubular member 25" extends above an assumed maximum fuel level and the entrance hole 28 will have to be located substantially in said fuel level. Upon inversion of the casing from said most unfavorable position, the portion of the tubular member above the fuel level may immerse into the fuel supply but concurrently therewith the entrance hole 28 moves away from the fuel supply and cuts oil communication between the latter :and the wick, or the portion of the tubular member above the fuel'level will increase and concurrently therewith the entrance hole will dip deeper into the fuel supply. In the present form of the casing, there are two most unfavorable positions that have to be'taken into account, these two positions being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, respectively. In Fig. 2 the casing must be assumed to be in a position in which the fuel assumes the dot-and-dash position. It will be noted that as long asthe entrance hole 28 is located substantially in the maximum fuel levels shown there, the wick will never be flooded entirely, it takes at least the capillary attraction of that portion of the wick extending above these illustrated fuel levels 'in order to convey fuel to the exposed wickportion. Supposing the casing 28 assumes the position shown in Fig. a then capillary attraction of the wick hasto convey fuel from the fuel level to the highest portion of the wick above the fuel level. Having determined'the exact location of the entrance hole in the tubular member 25 and havingalso determined the maximum fuel supply in the casing 28, the funnel is extended to the maximum fuel level when the casing is in the position shown in Fig. 4 so that said funnel serves also as an indicator for proper refueling of the lighter, the same being properly-refueled when the fuel level reaches the entrance of the funnel 38. Further pouring of fuel into the funnel 38 would not result in an appreciable rise of the fuel levelbecause the air in the casing above said level is trapped and the funnel would merely overflow. The fun- More parnel;therefore renders a completefilling of the casing impossible and even prevents a filling of the casing beyond a predetermined maximum fuel amount therein. Since the position of the lighter shown in Fig. 1 is that position in which the lighter is used, the entrance hole is naturally located close to thebottom 2| of the casing in I order to make sa isfactory use.even of a slight fuel supply. The long tubular member effectively prevents an explosion of the lighter, a striking back of the flame throughout the entire length of said tubularmember is impossible:

clusivejcomprisesa tubular member 68 to which is braced another member 5i 'containinga wick 62 arranged in the-convolute fashion disclosed in 6*and 8.. One-end of said wick extends through tubular member 88 and the other end thereof is firmly held by a tongue 63jof member 6| which is bent over said other wick end. Whenever necessary, the user will pull out the wick slightly at the free end of tubular member 88 and before the wick convolutions in member 88 are rolled open by such pulling out of the wick end, a

longperiod of time during which the lighter is used will elapse. However, the end held by tongue 63 will not give way under the pull of the user,

therefore the wick 62 always extends through the entire length of tubular member 88 and the latter is long enough effectively to prevent a striking back of the flame into fuel supply. Member 6 l is provided with an opening 64 which is cut out in order to form the already explained tongue 63.

Opening 64 is located at a point inside the case where the maximum fuel supply will never flood the entire wick regardless of any position the casing may assume. Naturally the same course as earlier described will be takenin order properly to locate opening 64.

The modification disclosed in ms. 10 andll comprises a tubular member 18 which is braced or otherwise attached to the top H and also to an internal lug 12 of the bottom 13 of a casing 14. This tubular member contains a wick 15. A plug 16 and gasket 11 seal the internal lug 12. An opening 18 in the tubular member 18 which provides the sole communication between the wick and the'fuel supply I9 is located within the casing 14 in the manner explained earlier so that the maximum fuel supply cannot flood the wick in any position of the housing. Thewick, after having been used up to a certain extent may readily be replaced by removing plug 16 and inserting a new wick into the tubular member 18.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes apreferred form, it is to be understood that-other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A lighter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on a wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending from said wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and a tubu-, lar member surrounding the wick and having an opening providing the sole communication between the wick and the fuel supply, said opening being so located with respect to the casing that the fuel supply cannot flood the entire wick The-,modiiication disclosed in Figs. s to e, in-

stantiallyrectimgular casing for containing a'supply of fuel in liquid form; means carried-by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximumfuel supply which is less than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing thei introduction means; ignition mechanism on a' wall of the casings, a ,wick'associated with the ignition mechanism and extending from said wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and atubular member surrounding' the wick and having: an open end adjacent the ignition mechanism and an orificed bottom inithecasing which provides the sole communication between the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the easing, said tubular member'being so located with respect to the casing that a substantial length of the tubular member is above the fuel level regardless of any position the casing mayassume.

3; A lighter comprising in combination, a casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form,

laid casing having a top wall and an opposite bottom wall; means carried by the-casing for in* troducing therein a, predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than-thecapacityof the casing; means forsealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on the top wall of the easlng; a wick associated with the ignition mechas lism and extending from the. top wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and a tubutar member secured to the top wall and surrounding the wick and having an open end adjacent the ignition mechanism and an orificed bottom adjacent the bottom wall of the casing, said; oriilced bottom providing the sole communication between the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the casing, and said tubular member being so located with respect to the casing that a substantial length of the tubular member is above the fuel level regardless of any position the casing may assume.

4. A lighter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum iuel-supply which is less than thdcapacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on a wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending from said wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and a member secured to said wall and surrounding a part of the wick adjacent the ignition mechanism and containing the remainder of the wick in convolutions, the end of whichis attached to the member by a tongue punched therefrom, the opening in the member resulting from the punching of the tongue providing the sole communication between the interior of .the casing and the interior of the member and being so located with respect to the casing that the fuel supply cannot flood the entire wick regardless of any position the casing may assume.

5. A lighter comprising in combination, a casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form, laid casing having a top wall and an opposite bottom wall; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply whichis less than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on the top wall of the easing: a wick associated with-the ignition mechanism and extending from the top walleccentricall'y thereof into the casing; and a member sethe open end of the member. being adjacent 'the ignition mechanism and the bottom' thereof being adjacent the ,bot-

tomwall ofthecasing, said member surroun'd-;

ing apart of the wick adjacent theignition mechanism and containing the remainder of the wick in convolutions the end of which is attached to the member by a tongue punched from the bottom of said member, the'opening in the member resulting from the punching of the tongue providing the sole communication between the interior ofithe casing and the interior of the mem ber and being so located with respect to the casing that thefuelrsupply cannot flood the entirewick regardless "of-any position the casing may assume.

6. A lighter comprising,in combination, a cas ing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form, said casing havinga top wall and a bottom wall provided with an opening; means carried bythe casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuelfsupply which isle'ss than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on the top wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignitionmechanism and extending from the'top wall eccentrlcally thereof into the casing; a tubua lar membersurround l g the wick, one open end and means for sealing the opening in the bottom of the casing.

7 A lighter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular casing for holding a supply of fuel in liquid form; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on a wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending into the casing from a point remote from the center of said casing wall; and a tubular member secured to said casing wall and surrounding the wick and having an orificed bottom which provides the sole communication between the interiors of the tubular member and the casing, said tubular member being curved so as to locate the orifice thereof within the casing in such manner that the fuel supply cannot flood the entire wick regardless of any position the casing may assume.

8. A lighter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular casing for holding a supply of fuel in liquid form; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a. predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than the capacity of the casinfi; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on a'wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending into the casing from a point remote from the center of said casing wall; and

i a tubular member secured to said casing wall and. surrounding the wick and having an oriflced botb tantiallengthofthetubularmemberisab0ve.

maximum fuel supply which. is less than the .pacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism; on'a wall ofthe casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and'extending into the casing froma point near one corner of said casing wall; and a tubular member secured to said casing wall and surrounding the wick and having an oriiiced bottom which provides the sole communication between the interior of the tubular mem-' ber and the interior of the casing, said tubular member curving toward a corner of the casin diagonally opposite the first mentioned corner sons to locate the orifice thereof within thecasing in such manner that the fuel supply cannot flood the entire wickregardless of any position the casing may assume.

10. A lighter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular casing for holding a supply of fuel in liquid form: means carried by the easing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than the capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on a wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending into-the casing from a point near one corner of said casing wall; and a tubular member secured to said casing wall and a surrounding the wick-and having an oriflced bottom which provides the sole communication between the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the casing, said tubular member curvingtoward a comer of the casing diagonally opposite the first mentioned corner so that a the fuel level regardless of anyposition the easing may assume.

a 11. A lighter comprising, in combination; a casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form, said casing at least one flat wall; means carried by the casing for introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply which isless'th'an the capacity of the casing. means for sealing the introduction means ignition mechanism on said one. flat wall of the casing: awick associated with the ignition mechanism and'extending from said one flat wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and a tubular member surrounding thewick and having an opening providing the sole communication between the wick and the fuel supply, said opening being so located with respect to the casing that the fuel supply cannot flood the entire wick regardless of any position the casing may assume. I

12. A lighter comprising. in combination, a casing for containing a supply of fuel in liquid form, said casing having at least one flat wall; means carried by the casing for'introducing therein a predetermined maximum fuel supply which is less than the'capacity of the casing; means for sealing the introduction means; ignition mechanism on said one flat wall of the casing; a wick associated with the ignition mechanism and extending from said one flat wall eccentrically thereof into the casing; and a tubular member surrounding the wick and having an open end adjacent the ignition mechanism and an oriflced bottom in the casing which provides the sole communication between the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the casing, said tubular member being so located with respect to the casing that a substantial length ofthe tubular member is above the fuel level regardless of any position the casing may assume.

WALTER SPRUEGEL.

' WALTER W. 

